Wavelet analysis of the variability of nitrous oxide emissions from soil at decameter to kilometer scales.

We analyzed data on nitrous oxide emissions and on soil properties that were collected on a 7.5-km transect across an agricultural landscape in eastern England using the discrete wavelet packet transform. We identified a wavelet packet "best basis" for the emission data. Wavelet packet basis functions are used to decompose the data into a set of coefficients that represent the variation in the data at different spatial frequencies and locations. The "best basis" for a set of data is adapted to the variability in the data by ensuring that the spatial resolution of local features is good at those spatial frequencies where variation is particularly intermittent. The best basis was shown to be adapted to represent such intermittent variation, most markedly at wavelengths of 100 m or less. Variation at these wavelengths was shown to be correlated particularly with chemical properties of the soil, such as nitrate content. Variation at larger wavelengths showed less evidence of intermittency and was found to be correlated with soil chemical and physical constraints on emission rates. In addition to frequency-dependent intermittent variation, it was found that the variance of emission rates at some wavelengths changed at particular locations along the transect. One factor causing this appeared to be contrasts in parent material. The complex variation in emission rates identified by these analyses has implications for how emission rates are estimated.

Quantitative development of Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizas formed between Asphodelus fistulosus and Glomus coronatum.

• Arum- and Paris-type symbioses are the two main morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhiza. Here, the developmental time-course of the Paris-type association formed from colonization of Asphodelus fistulosus (onion weed) by Glomus coronatum is presented. • Development was monitored over 27 d. Root colonization was assessed using a modification of the magnified intersects technique (MIT), for investigating the interdependence (thus IMIT) of structures. • Hyphal and arbusculate coils were found predominantly in the outer and inner cortex of the root, respectively. The interdependence of external hyphae, hyphal coils and arbusculate coils was determined during the relatively slow development of the symbiosis. • The time required for development of Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizas is slower than for the Arum type, and both time and space influence the formation of hyphal coils. Use of IMIT for scoring colonization allows determination of the interdependence of different fungal structures, and thus the technique has potentially wide applications, such as in relating the presence of different structures to signals from molecular probes.

Effect of DNA concentration on transgenesis rates in mice and pigs.

A retrospective analysis of transgenesis rates obtained in seven pronuclear microinjection programs was undertaken to determine if a relationship existed between the amount of DNA injected and transgenesis rates in the pig. Logistic regression analysis showed that as the concentration of DNA injected increased from 1 to 10 ng/microl, the number of transgenics when expressed as a proportion of the number liveborn (integration rate) increased from 4% to an average of 26%. A similar relationship was found when the number of molecules of DNA injected per picolitre was analysed. No evidence was obtained to suggest either parameter influenced integration rate in mice when the same constructs were injected. The number of transgenics liveborn when expressed as a proportion of ova injected (efficiency rate), increased as DNA concentration increased up to 7.5 ng/microl and then decreased at 10 ng/microl for both species suggesting that at this concentration DNA (or possible contaminants) may have influenced embryo survival. The relationship between efficiency and the number of molecules injected per picolitre was complex suggesting that the concentration at which DNA was injected was a better determinant of integration and efficiency rates. In conclusion, the present study suggests that transgenes need to be injected at concentrations of between 5 and 10 ng/microl to maximise integration and efficiency rates in pigs.

Correlation of umbilical cord whole blood viscosity and the presence of fetal distress at birth: a mathematical modelling study.

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between umbilical cord blood viscosity and clinical parameters such as maternal parity, maternal smoking, mode of delivery, sex of infant and the incidence of fetal distress at birth using mathematical modelling. The results demonstrated vaginal delivery, male infants, infants of primigravidas and low cord whole blood viscosity at a high shear rate were covariables and were associated with an increased incidence of fetal distress and low Apgar scores.